In brief
- A lash lift sets your own lashes upwards and keeps them that way. Nothing is extended or glued on.
- You see it for six to eight weeks. By then your lashes have renewed themselves and the lift has grown out by itself.
- The treatment takes an hour. For the first 24 hours your lashes stay dry, after that everything is fine again.
- There are two ways. The classic lash lift gives a round curl, the Korean lash lift lifts your lashes straight up from the root.
- At Moons in Enschede a classic lash lift costs €50.00 and a Korean lash lift €60.00. With tint added that is €55.00 and €65.00.
Written by Nilay, owner and beauty therapist at Moons BeautyUpdated on
What is a lash lift?
A lash lift is a treatment that sets your own lashes upwards and fixes them in that position. It does not make your lashes longer or thicker. They just stand differently: upwards, instead of straight ahead or downwards. As a result you see them better, they look longer and your eyes look more open.
It works like a perm for the hair on your head, only very small and very precise. A first lotion loosens the bonds that determine the shape of the hair. Your lashes then lie on a silicone shield, in the position we want. A second lotion sets those bonds again, now in the new shape. Then comes a nourishing step, so the hairs stay supple.
You also hear other names for it: eyelash lift, eyelash lifting, lashlift or lash lifting. They are all the same thing. Lash tinting is something else. That gives your lashes colour, while the shape stays as it is. The two are often done together, as a lash lift with tint.
What happens during the appointment?
You lie down for an hour with your eyes closed. It does not hurt. At most you feel the light pressure of the shield on your eyelid.
Looking first
We look at the length, thickness and growth direction of your lashes. Based on that we choose the technique, the size of the shield and how long the lotion is left on. Fine lashes need less time than stiff ones.
Cleansing and placing the shield
Your lashes are cleaned, so there is no oil or mascara left on them. Then the shield goes on your eyelid and we lay your lashes over it hair by hair.
Lifting and setting
The first lotion makes the hairs pliable, the second sets the new position. This is where precision matters. Too short and you see little effect, too long and your lashes can become dry or start to kink.
Tinting and nourishing
If you chose the lift with tint, your lashes get their colour now. Finally there is a nourishing step. Then you open your eyes and see the result straight away.
Korean or classic, what is the difference?
Both work with your own lashes and you see both for six to eight weeks. They differ in the shape of the result.
| Topic | Classic lash lift | Korean lash lift |
|---|---|---|
| The shape | A round curl along the whole length of the lash | The bend sits at the root, after that the lash stands straight up |
| What you see | A visible curl, lashes look fuller | An open look, lashes look longer |
| Best suited to | Lashes that already have some curl or that you want fuller | Stiff, straight or downward-growing lashes |
| How long | Six to eight weeks | Six to eight weeks |
| Price at Moons | €50.00, with tint €55.00 | €60.00, with tint €65.00 |
You often read that one technique lasts longer or is healthier than the other. There is no evidence for that. You'll find more about each technique on the pages about the classic lash lift and the Korean lash lift.
How long does a lash lift last?
A lash lift stays visible for six to eight weeks. The lift itself does not wear off. It is your lashes that renew themselves. Each lash grows, falls out after a while and makes way for a new one. That new lash is not lifted.
Your lashes do not all change at once, so it happens very gradually. In the first weeks everything stands firmly upwards. Halfway through, straight lashes appear in between. Around week six to eight most of them have been renewed. It never looks grown out from one day to the next.
What shortens the lift: getting wet in the first 24 hours, a lot of oil around your eyes and frequent rubbing. What helps: keeping your lashes dry on the first day, brushing them upwards briefly every day and using a lash serum.
Aftercare: what is allowed when?
The first day decides how good your lift keeps looking. During those 24 hours the new position is still setting. After that you can do almost everything again.
| Topic | First 24 hours | After that |
|---|---|---|
| Water and showering | Keep your lashes dry, in the shower too | Fine |
| Mascara and eye make-up | Better not | Fine. Choose a mascara you remove without oil, and preferably skip waterproof |
| Sauna, steam, swimming and sweating | Skip them for a day | Fine |
| Oil around your eyes | Don't use it | Keep it to a minimum, because oil makes the lift drop sooner |
| Rubbing and sleeping | Don't rub, and preferably don't sleep with your face in the pillow | Rub your eyes as little as possible |
| Brushing and serum | Leave your lashes alone | Brush them upwards every day with a clean spoolie. A lash serum is fine from the second day |
If your own salon gives you different advice, follow that. It depends on the products that were used.
Lashes got wet anyway, what now?
A few drops or a rain shower in the first 24 hours does not immediately mean your lift is gone. Gently pat your lashes dry with a clean tissue and don't rub. Then brush them upwards with a clean spoolie and otherwise leave them alone.
If they got properly soaked, for example in the shower or in the pool, the lift can become less firm or drop in places. You only notice that in the days after. If the result is then clearly weaker, get in touch with the salon where you had it done. Don't try to fix it yourself with a lash curler or a home kit.
Who does it work for, and when is it better not to?
A good idea if
- Your lashes grow straight ahead or downwards
- You don't want to bother with a lash curler or mascara every morning
- You want to look well groomed without make-up, on holiday or when you exercise
- You want the effect of extensions, but with your own lashes and without infills
- You have light lashes. With tint added they stand out even without mascara
Check with us first
- Very short lashes. A lift is possible, but you see less of it
- Lash extensions. They have to come off completely first
- An eye infection, a stye or an irritated eyelid. Wait until it has passed
- A previous reaction to hair dye or lash tint. Say so beforehand, then we test first
- Brittle or frequently treated lashes. Give them a few months' rest first
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding. Mention it when you book, then we discuss whether to leave out the tint
- Contact lenses. They come out before the treatment, so bring a case
The pros and the cons.
The biggest advantage is convenience. You wake up with lashes that already point upwards, for six to eight weeks. You no longer need a lash curler, and often less mascara or none at all. They are your own lashes. So nothing that was glued on falls out, and you don't need infills.
There are downsides too, and you should know about them beforehand.
- The result depends on your own lashes. If they are short or thin, the effect is smaller than in the photos you see online
- For the first 24 hours you need to be careful with water, steam and make-up
- A lift cannot be undone. If you find it too strong, it has to grow out
- Lifting too often or too long a processing time can make your lashes dry and brittle. That is why there are at least six weeks between two treatments
- It is temporary. After six to eight weeks you start again
Lash lift gone wrong, what now?
Usually it goes well. If it does disappoint, it is almost always down to one of these four things.
Too curly or kinked
The lashes have been bent too far, often because of a shield that was too small or a processing time that was too long. In the first days it usually relaxes a little. Don't have a new lift put on top, because that makes it worse. Care for your lashes with a serum and give them time to grow out.
Hardly any effect
The lotion was not left on long enough, or your lashes got wet in the first 24 hours. With very short or fine lashes the effect is naturally smaller too. Talk to your salon before you have anything redone.
Left different from right
Lashes do not grow exactly the same on both eyes, so a small difference is normal. If the difference is big, show it to the salon where you had it done.
Dry, stiff lashes
That points to too much or too often. Stop lifting for a few months and use a lash serum every day. The lotions work on the hair itself and not on the root, so new lashes simply grow back.
A lash lift at home with a kit?
At the chemist and online you can buy kits to do a lash lift yourself. That seems cheap, but it is harder than it looks. You work with lotions a few millimetres from your eye, with your eyes closed or in a mirror, and you lay your lashes on the shield hair by hair.
Where it often goes wrong at home: the lotion gets on the skin or in the eye, the processing time does not suit your lashes, or the lashes lie crossed on the shield and get a kink. A kink or over-processed lashes then take weeks to grow out.
If you still want to try it yourself, read the kit's instructions in full, do the allergy test that comes with it and stick to the shortest processing time. If lotion gets in your eye, rinse straight away with plenty of water. If your eye stays red or painful, call your GP.
What does a lash lift cost?
The price varies by salon and by technique. These are the prices at Moons in Enschede, as they currently appear on our price list.
| Topic | Price at Moons | Duration | How long you see it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic lash lift | €50.00 | 60 minutes | Six to eight weeks |
| Classic lash lift with tint | €55.00 | 60 minutes | Lift six to eight weeks, colour about four weeks |
| Korean lash lift | €60.00 | 60 minutes | Six to eight weeks |
| Korean lash lift with tint | €65.00 | 60 minutes | Lift six to eight weeks, colour about four weeks |
| Lash tint | €15.00 | 30 minutes | About four weeks |
If you want a lift all year round, you come in every six to eight weeks. You'll find all prices on the prices page.
Combining and planning.
With tint. If you have light lashes or light tips, colour makes the effect a lot stronger. The lift lasts longest. The colour fades after about four weeks, and you can have it topped up separately in between. Everything about the colour is in lash tinting.
With your brows. A lash lift and a brow lamination can be done in the same appointment, because they are two different areas. Together that takes about two hours.
Before a holiday. Plan your lift a few days before you leave. Then the first day is behind you and you can go swimming straight away.
Before a wedding or party. A lift looks its best after a week or two. If it is your first time, do a trial run six weeks earlier. The whole schedule is in your skin before your wedding.
What to look for when choosing a salon?
A lash lift is precision work right next to your eye. These are the signs of a salon that handles it with care.
They look first
A good specialist looks at your lashes before starting and tells you what you can expect, even if a lift will do little for you.
They ask about allergies
If you have ever reacted to hair dye or lash tint, a test should be done beforehand.
The processing time fits your lashes
Fine lashes need less time than stiff ones. One fixed time for everyone is a bad sign.
They explain the aftercare
You hear what to avoid for the first 24 hours and how to keep the lift looking good after that.
The price is clearly listed
You know beforehand what you pay, with or without tint. Our prices are on the prices page.
You can see real work
Look at photos of their own clients and read what others write. Ours are on the results page and under reviews.
Is your eye still red or painful?
If your eye or eyelid stays red, swollen, itchy or painful after a lash lift, or you can't see as well, don't wait and call your GP. Also tell the salon where you had it done.
Frequently asked questions about lash lift
What is a lash lift?
A lash lift sets your own lashes upwards and fixes them in that position, with two lotions and a silicone shield. It does not make your lashes longer or thicker. You do see them better, because they point upwards. The result lasts six to eight weeks.
How long does a lash lift last?
Six to eight weeks. Your lashes renew themselves in that time, and new lashes are not lifted. That is why the lift gradually grows out. Halfway through you see the first straight lashes in between.
How long does a lash lift take?
An hour, even if your lashes are tinted as well. You lie with your eyes closed the whole time.
How often can you get a lash lift?
Leave at least six weeks between two lash lifts. By then most lashes have renewed themselves and you are not lifting hairs that have just been treated. Most people come every six to eight weeks.
How long should you keep your lashes dry after a lash lift?
24 hours. During that time the new position is still setting. After that you can shower, swim and go to the sauna as normal.
My lash lift got wet, what now?
Gently pat your lashes dry, don't rub and brush them upwards with a clean spoolie. A few drops usually do little. If they got soaked, the lift can become less firm. You notice that in the days after.
When can I wear mascara again after a lash lift?
After 24 hours. Choose a mascara you can remove without oil. Better to leave waterproof mascara alone, because you usually take it off with an oil-based product, and oil makes the lift drop sooner.
Can I swim or go to the sauna with a lash lift?
Yes, after the first 24 hours. If you are going on holiday, plan your lift a few days before you leave.
Is a lash lift bad for your lashes?
Not if it is done well and with enough rest in between. The lotions temporarily change the shape of the hair. Lifting too often or too long a processing time can make lashes dry and brittle, though. That is why there should be at least six weeks in between.
What are the disadvantages of a lash lift?
The effect depends on your own lashes, you need to be careful with water and steam for the first 24 hours, and a lift cannot be undone. If it is too strong, it has to grow out. It is also temporary: after six to eight weeks you start again.
My lash lift went wrong, what can I do?
Don't have a new lift put on top. If your lashes are too curly or have a kink, that often relaxes a little in the first days and then grows out. Care for them with a lash serum and show it to the salon where you had it done.
Can you get a lash lift on short lashes?
Yes, but you see less of it. Have your lashes looked at beforehand. A good salon will then tell you how much effect you can expect.
Can you get a lash lift if you wear contact lenses?
Yes. You take your lenses out before the treatment, so bring a case.
Can you get a lash lift when you are pregnant?
Always mention it when you book. At Moons we then discuss together whether to leave out the tint. If you are in doubt, ask your midwife as well.
Can you do a lash lift at home?
Kits are sold, but you work with lotions right next to your eye and the processing time has to match your lashes exactly. If it goes wrong, you have kinked lashes for weeks. Better to have it done.
What does a lash lift cost?
At Moons in Enschede a classic lash lift costs €50.00 and a Korean lash lift €60.00. With tint added it is €55.00 and €65.00. Elsewhere the price may differ.
What is the difference between a Korean lash lift and a regular lash lift?
With a regular, classic lash lift your lashes get a round curl along their whole length. With a Korean lash lift the bend sits at the root and the rest stands straight up. That gives a more open look and lashes that look longer. Both last six to eight weeks.
Lash lift or lash extensions, which is better?
A lash lift works with your own lashes and needs no upkeep. Extensions give more length and volume, but need infills every few weeks. The full comparison is in lash lift or lash extensions.
Can you get a lash lift after lash extensions?
Yes, once the extensions are completely off. If your own lashes are brittle afterwards, give them a few months' rest first.
Does a lash lift hurt?
No. You keep your eyes closed and at most feel the light pressure of the shield on your eyelid.
From reading to doing
What we do with this in the salon
Korean lash lift
Your lashes straight up from the root, with price and steps.
Classic lash lift
Your own lashes in a round curl, for six to eight weeks.
Lash tint
Dark lashes for about four weeks, also in between two lifts.
All lash treatments
Classic, Korean and tint side by side, with price and duration.
